Letters
Letters to the Editor: June 18, 2008
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Jun 18, 2008 - 10:35:50 AM

Corrections for Mr. Manson

To the Editor:

In response to Niel Manson’s letter, “Relic Hunters Destroy Important Information” (June 11), the article didn’t discuss archaeological excavations because they aren’t economically feasible in Chesterfield County until the county can be shown on paper how tourism brings in revenue. The items have to be preserved and stored where the county doesn’t have the personnel or space. There are plenty of sites that beg scientific excavations and are available for this purpose, but as you mentioned in your letter, excavations are very expensive. Chesterfield County cannot afford to construct a simple parking area for Ware Bottom Church Battlefield or a walking trail with interpretive signs for the new park. The Chesterfield Military History Committee would be more than happy to accept your donation of time and energy to explore some of the sites.

You asked why private property rights are so important as to allow the desecration and destruction of historic evidence. Anyone who owns property can rattle off many reasons why our country preserves private property rights. Historians and preservationists cannot dictate to the residents of Chesterfield whether or not they can develop their property. If that was so, the entire Bermuda peninsula would be one huge preserve. A land owner told me he bulldozed the earthworks on his property several inches at a time for two reasons. One was to relic hunt the site, which only returned a few pitiful bullets, but more importantly, so the county couldn’t stop potential development on his property due to the earthworks being present.

Unfortunately, he destroyed the true treasure of the property and robbed future generations of its history. There are numerous projects being planned in Chesterfield that will destroy historic sites, and the volunteers of the different historical organizations cannot save them all, especially when there is virtually no help available from the county. More and more grants are being written with a clause stating the funding can not be used for acquiring or improving historic properties.

The Village News does not fail to recognize the importance of the ruminants of history; it has brought awareness to history more over the last few years than all of the other news publications put together. You say hypocrisy and ignorance both enter into the equation somewhere, but you don’t know where to point your finger; try the government complex on Ironbridge Rd. and their outdated plans for responsible growth.

Eric Chandler

Voicing Support for Change

To the Editor:

Voters in Virginia’s 4th District have a new candidate to be excited about in the November election.   I am referring not to Obama (although his nomination is certainly a reason to be excited!), but to Andrea Miller, who is running for the House of Representatives in the 4th Congressional district (which includes 11 counties in addition to several cities including Petersburg).  Ms. Miller is a Democrat who lives “locally” in Chesterfield County.  She has an impressive background in education, business, and technology, as well leadership experience with progressive organizations.  

Some of Ms. Miller’s key campaign issues are access to high quality health care for all, good jobs that pay a living wage, secure retirement, and protecting the environment.  She believes we must return to a “State of Law” with all the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.  She also believes that peace, through justice, is possible.

The Amelia County Democratic Committee has invited Andrea Miller to come out to Amelia County for their next meeting, on June 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Amelia County School Board Office.  The public is invited to come and meet the candidate.

The 4th District Congressional seat is currently held by J. Randy Forbes, who has been unopposed since 2001.  Mr. Forbes votes in line with the current administration.  If you think it’s time for change in Washington, then Andrea Miller is your candidate.  I urge you to come and meet this remarkable woman.

Corry Hughes

The Homebuyers Pay the Proffers

To the Editor:
With all due respect, Mr. Lohr’s belief that proffers would be good for Chesterfield County (June 11) is extremely misguided.  He states that since the developers have “made plenty of money in the past,” they should pay for “the problems they have created.” Mr. Lohr, do you honestly believe that the builders are paying those proffers that are already in place?  My, my, are you living in another world!  You, my friend, will be paying those proffers in the long run. The buyers of those new homes pay those proffers up front.  Okay, now that raises the cost of the house, which in turn, raises the selling prices of existing homes, YOUR home, due to marketability.  This raises the taxes of all homes once they have been reassessed at those higher market values.  That additional cost has now been added to the buyers’ mortgages; so in essence, they are paying that proffer for 30 years, even more money than the original proffer cost. So, this is good? Do you want to tell me how? Well, I guess it is if you don’t live in Chesterfield County. Proffers will never be the solution, but only serve to backfire eventually.  But yours is the typical attitude of those residents with the “I’ve got mine, so don’t build here anymore” attitude, the no-growth crowd.  Part of the problem I see is not housing, but in the lack of commercial and business development to pay their share of the taxes that are burdening us homeowners.

Gee, since you think it’s such a fabulous idea, why don’t you pay the extra cost for those of us who don’t?

Gloria Sauer


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